The Immigration Debate Has Swung Drastically In The Past 18 Months

A majority of Americans think undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country and apply for citizenship, according to a new CBS News poll.

The poll found that 51 percent of respondents said illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. should be allowed to stay. Another 20 percent think they should be allowed to stay as guest workers. Twenty-four percent think they should leave the country.

The poll also gives a glimpse into how the debate over illegal immigration has swung in just the past year and a half. In a CBS poll taken in November 2011, only 37 percent of Americans said they thought illegal immigrants should be able to stay and apply for citizenship. Meanwhile, 38 percent said they should leave the country.

That question has swung 28 points in the past 17 months.

A majority of Democrats (by a 66-13 split) and Independents (by a 47-27 split) agree that illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the country, rather than be deported. A slim majority of Republicans (36 percent) believe that immigrants should be forced to leave rather than allowed to stay (35 percent).